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Sugar industry plays an important role in the economy of the Pakistan. It is the second largest industry after textiles. Time changes rapidly, and industries sees the rise and fall at different times. In sugar industry, everything was not same like it is today. Pakistan was the importer of sugar initially. At the time of independence in 1947, there were only two sugar factories in Pakistan. The production of these factories was not enough for meeting the domestic requirements. Newly emerged country, Pakistan, started to import sugar from other countries and huge foreign exchange was spent on this item. Country wise it was needed to increase the production of sugar. Keeping in view the importance and requirement of the sugar industry, Pakistani government setup a commission in 1957 to frame a scheme and recommendations for the development of the industry. In the result first sugar mill was established at Tando Muhammad Khan (Sindh), in 1961. After this first step country saw a rapid change in this industry and currently there are 76 sugar mills operating in Pakistan.

In Pakistan a very advance system standard methods are used to obtain the solid crystals. In the sugar mill, machines wash, cut, and chop the stalks into a pulpy mass. Cane juice is squeezed out by crushing the pulpy mass of sugar cane with the help of rollers. Cane juice, dark grayish-green color, is heated to its boiling point. Different chemicals are added to remove impurities of the juice. After this the juice is placed in huge tanks to evaporate. The remaining of juice in the tank is like thick syrup. This syrup is heated to remove more and more water until crystals form. The crystals are then separated from the syrup, by putting into a centrifuge machine which spins it around rapidly. Raw sugar is obtained in the machine’s cylinder after this procedure. In this raw form sugar is used by some manufacturers, but to make it suitable for food, it must pass through a refinery. There, it is dissolved again and treated with chemicals. The liquid is then filtered and crystallized once more. The crystallized liquid is then allowed to solidify. Pure white sugar is obtained which is ready to use in food.

Major Sugar factories are working in Mardan, Faisalabad, Joharabad, Bunny, Pattoki, Charsada, Larkana, Chorister, Tando Muhammad Khan, Bahawalpur, Jhung, Layyah, Darya Khan and Gujrat. The Sugar industry employs over 75000 people, including management experts, technologists, engineers, and financial experts, skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled workers. It contributes around 4 billion rupees only under the head of excise duty and other levies to the Government are also paramount significance.

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